New Britain Youth Museum Llands A Lloveable Llama

August 12, 2005|By WILL HEALEY; Courant Staff Writer

BERLIN — A former national champion show llama is the newest addition to the already diverse barnyard of the New Britain Youth Museum at Hungerford Park, a museum and outdoor educational center in Kensington.

Lightning Bug the llama, who took 5th place at the 2003 Grand National Llama Show in Lincoln, Neb., as a yearling, was raised and trained by Toni and Richard Knie of Petersburg, Tenn. The Knies, who are friends of Anne Peabody, director of the museum, offered to donate one of the 21 llamas they were raising.

``Llamas are extremely intelligent and work well with people,'' Toni Knie said Thursday. ``I chose Lightning Bug for the New Britain Youth Museum at Hungerford Park because he is a good example of a quality llama that's easy to handle.''

Now 2 1/2 years old, Lightning Bug is a heavy wool llama, with a dark brown-black coat. He stands about 5-feet-6 and weighs about 240 pounds.

At the museum Thursday, a group of youngsters spotted the llama being walked around the park.

``Wow, look at that camel!'' said a young boy in the museum's Summer Camp Class. The boy wasn't far off; Llamas are members of the genus Camelus, a group that includes camels, alpacas and vicunas. A resemblance is evidenced in Lightning Bug's facial structure.

Named for his father, ``White Lightning,'' Lightning Bug arrived at the museum about six weeks ago, sporting a fresh show cut.

``I call it a poodle cut,'' joked Peabody. Lightning Bug's long neck, head, tail and haunches are left shaggy, much like an unsheared sheep, while his midsection and legs are shaved. ``We'll probably let the hair grow in for the winter, then shave it back next spring,'' Peabody said Thursday.

Lightning Bug will add another dynamic to the zany atmosphere of the barnyard at Hungerford.

``Llamas are aloof, like cats,'' said Debbie Ladd, a museum employee. ``They give affection on their own terms.''

That's not to say that Lightning Bug isn't personable. ``He's still pretty curious and unsure of his new home. Because llamas are very sensitive on their faces, they'll usually lean down and sniff people to get a feel for them. Then they'll let people pet them on their neck,'' Peabody said.

Programs about llamas, featuring Lightning Bug, will be offered in early 2006.

``Lightning Bug has been trained to travel in vans,'' said Museum Educator Donna Welch, ``so our goal is to take him to schools and other off-site locations for additional classes and programs to continue to enrich our educational programming and off-site classes.''

The New Britain Youth Museum at Hungerford Park's barnyard summer hours, until Aug. 27, are Tuesday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $4 for adults, $2 for children 2 and up.